While nuclear energy is rising from its ashes and construction of new power plants is increasing abroad, the Quebec Minister of Energy affirmed Tuesday, in front of business people, that the debate on nuclear was not closed. It is in this context favorable to the industry that AtkinsRéalis — formerly SNC-Lavalin — will launch a campaign on Wednesday to promote the atom. Interview with its CEO, Ian Edwards.
“There is no carbon neutrality without nuclear power,” declares Ian Edwards, head of the Montreal company, bluntly. Not only do we need to replace fossil fuels, but we also need to double or even triple electricity production to meet the demand that comes from electric cars, electric heating and data centers. »
The engineering firm has also increased its contracts and partnerships in the sector in recent years, both in the fission and small modular reactor sectors as well as in the fusion sector. The value of atom-related services represented 12% of the value of its order book in 2022. And that could only be the beginning. “We think it’s going to grow faster than the rest of the business. »
This is because on the world stage, nuclear power is popular. In its final declaration, the 28e Climate Conference of the Parties (COP28) called for “accelerated” nuclear development. On the sidelines of the meeting, around twenty countries, including Canada, called for nuclear energy production capacity to triple in the world by 2050.
Even in Quebec, where hydroelectricity reigns supreme, nuclear power resonates with decision-makers. Because if the CAQ government has not reopened the door to the atom, it has not necessarily locked it. Tuesday, while speaking to business people in Quebec, the Minister of Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, affirmed that the debate on the place of nuclear power in the province was not closed.
“When we look at what we need to do to decarbonize, the debate will come back. I think that as a government, in the ministry, at home, we must stay on the lookout for what is happening in nuclear power,” declared the minister, adding that “we must have a good narrative.”
Is Quebec a potential market for AtkinsRéalis? “From my point of view, I think that nuclear power could complement the production that comes from hydroelectricity and renewable energies. If we need to produce twice as much electricity, is it possible to do so by increasing hydropower and other forms of renewable energy? It may not be impossible, but it will be difficult,” replies Ian Edwards.
It is precisely to raise awareness of CANDU technology that AtkinsRéalis is launching a communications campaign on Wednesday called Canadians for CANDU. Former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Mike Harris will participate in the initiative. The goal: to ask the federal and provincial governments to support the only Canadian nuclear technology on the market.
“When it comes to large-scale nuclear power, there are only seven countries that have authorized technologies: Russia, China, South Korea, Japan, France, the United States and Canada . So, we are one of them,” he said, recalling that the CANDU reactors are the culmination of “seven decades of development”.
This AtkinsRéalis campaign is certainly no stranger to the geopolitical joust which is intensifying on a global scale for market share. Around sixty nuclear reactors are currently under construction around the world. However, nearly 70% of construction sites are headed by Russian or Chinese companies, according to the most recent data from the International Energy Agency.
In addition, the vast majority of the approximately 500 commercial reactors in operation or under construction depend on uranium enrichment, this process which consists of increasing the proportion of fissile isotopes in uranium and, therefore, stabilizing the combustible. Russia alone controls almost half (46%) of the planet’s enrichment capacities.
This desire to reduce dependence on Russia is an advantage for Canadian technology, says Mr. Edwards. CANDU reactors do not run on enriched uranium, but rather on natural uranium. “Yes, we think it’s an important selling point on a global scale,” says the boss of AtkinsRéalis.
Mr. Edwards concedes that the issue of radioactive waste management raises concerns among part of the Canadian population. Waste storage technologies have developed in recent years, he adds. He cites as an example a vitrification process – which converts radioactive liquid waste into solid glass – owned by AtkinsRéalis.
With Alexandre Robillard